Electric fixture



Aug. 16, 1938. l. LITNER 2,127,124

ELECTRIC FIXTURE Filed 001;. 7, 1936 INVENTOR ISAAC LITNER ATTO R N EY Patented Aug. 16, 1938 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC FIXTURE Application October 7, 1936, Serial No. 104,427

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electric fixtures, and particularly to structures of this general category comprising two units adapted to be mechanically and electrically joined together.

It is the usual practice in assembling two electric units of certain types, such as a reflector with a socket and an electric outlet fixture, to manually connect the wiring terminals and attach the parts together by suitable tools, requiring a similar but reverse procedure for detaching the parts. It is one of the objects of my invention to facilitate the assembling of such units by enabling them to be secured together without the a use of any tools whatsoever and to simultaneously effect a proper electrical union.

It is also'within the contemplation of my .invention to enable two units of the aforesaid class to be readily and firmly secured together in proper assembled relation by a simple manual manipulation, and to enable a similar ready detachment of the parts.

And it is a further object of my invention to provide an electric fixture possessing the abovestated advantages and so constructed as to be durable, simple in construction and inexpensive to fabricate.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawing and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the two units, shown detached, which constitute one form of my invention as applied to a lighting fixture.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the upper portion or wiring terminal unit constituting part of my invention.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the lower portion or connector unit constituting another part of my invention.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the two units constituting my invention taken along lines 4-4 of Figures 2 and 3 in their proper assembled relation, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section of Figure 2 taken along line 55, showing the housing with the wiring block removed.

In the drawing, the wiring terminal unit 6 contains as an element thereof the housing 1 adapted to be attached to a wall, ceiling or other structure containing electrical conductors 8. Gentrally positioned within the housing is the block 9 serving as the upper contact unit adapted for operative engagement with the lower contact unit to be hereinafter described. The "said block 9 contains the wiring terminals l 0 and the contacts I electrically joined to the conductors 8;

The connector unit l2, shown in the drawing for the purpose of illustration as a reflector, comprises the lower contact unit !3, including the '9 and underlying and in supporting engagement with the flange l1, and the latter being aflixed to the flange 28 by screws 2| and 22 extending through the inwardly bent flanged base 23 of the shade 24,-the said base being supported by the flange 20 of the lower contact unit.

Both of the annular members l8 and I9 contain a plurality of peripheral extensions substantially radially disposed, the said extensions of the member i8 being identified by the numerals 25, 26 and 21, and those of the member l9 by the numerals 28, Hand 30.

The internal wall of the housing I contains horizontal and preferably annular ridges 3| and 32, .the former for supporting the extensions 28, 29 and 30 of the annular element l9 and the latter for supporting the extensions 25, 26 and 21 of the upper annular member l8. The said annular ridges are interrupted by lower openings or recesses 33, 34 and 35, and upper openings or recesses 36, 31 and 38, these being made to correspond with the aforementioned extensions to permit of their vertical passage therethrough. A section of the upper ridge 32 is separated from the recess 36 by the wall 39, and from the recess 31 by the stop or screw 40 which extends through the wall of the housing and is retractable therefrom. The helical spring 4| is in yieldable en-. gagement with the upper inner surface of the housing and the block 9, normally tending to urge the latter downwardly.

In assembling the two units constituting this device, the lower connector unit |2,shown as the reflector unit,-is moved upwardly into operative engagement with the wiring terminal unit 6,-the extensions 28, 29 and 30 of member ID being moved through the recesses 33, 34, and 35 until contact is made between contact units 9 and I3. Upon continued upward pressure, against the action of spring 4|, the annular member I9 is brought above the level of the elevated portion 42 of the ridge 3|, and then the entire connector unit is given a turn so that the extension nearest said elevated portion 42 passes thereover, the rotary movement continuing with the extensions 28, 29 and 30 moving over or slidably moving along the ridge 3| until the desired position is obtained. Upon a release of the connector unit, the pressure caused by the spring 4| will actuate the block 9 downwardly, through the central opening of annular member I8, to effectuate a firm engagement'between the adjacent contacts II and l5,simultaneously causing the extensions 28, 29 and 30 of the annular ring l9 to bear firmly down against the ridge 3| and thereby establish a rigid assembly.

In this way it is seen that by a simple upward and rotary movement of the connector member, and its attached parts, a firm mechanical connection is secured between the upper and lower units as well as an electrical union of the conductors. No tools are necessary, and no individual attachment of wires is required.

To effect a detachment of the parts, the lower connector unit is simply forced upwardly against the pressure of the spring to a position above the elevated portion or stbp 42, and then rotated until the extensions 28, 29 and 30 are in registry with the openings 33, 34 and 35, and then drawn down vertically to completely detach the units. Thus it 'will be seen that an electric fixture containing two separate units embodying my invention can also be disassembled by a simple manual manipulation without the use of any instruments and without disturbing the fixed wiring connections. There is no possibility of the connector unit becoming detached due to jarring, shocks or vibration, as the elevated portion 42 and the wall 45 prevent a movement of the member I9 and attached parts beyond desired limits.

In assembling the elements of the upper wiring terminal unit 6, the block 9 and the annular member I8 mounted thereover, are inserted within the housing 1 by actuating them upwardly against the spring 4|, the extensions 25, 26 and 21 being moved vertically through the openings 36, 31 and 38,--and then turning the loosely mounted member l8 until the extensions thereof rest upon the ridge 32. In inserting the said member l8, it is first necessary to retract the screw 40 to leave the passageway clear for the adjacent extension of the member to move therepast. After the member I8 is in its proper position, the screw 40 is actuated inwardly to hold the member I8 against rotation and particularly against such movement, due to jarring or vibration, as might cause the extensions of this plate to move towards and over the recesses 36, 31 and 38 and drop therethrough. The wall 39 together with. the shank of screw 40 serve to prevent the extension of the member l8 which is positioned therebetween from moving therebeyond, serving as stops at the recesses or openings 36 and 31. As aforesaid this prevents a dropping down of the wiring terminal 9 when the connector unit is disengaged.

It should be noted, in the form of housing shown in the drawingTthat the ridge 43 at the bottom of the dome of the housing forms, together with ridge 32, a'channel 44 within which the extensions of the member l8 can move. Furthermore, in inserting the said member, the said ridge 43 prevents an upward movement thereof beyond the upper limit of the channel. If, however, there is no such ridge, as is the case in many housings of different designs, and the screw 40 is not in its retracted position, the member l8 can nevertheless be properly inserted by forcing it upwardly until the extensions on the member l8 are elevated above the shank of the screw 40 and then the parts rotated to bring it into proper position.

It is of course understood that the various embodiments above described and shown in the drawing are illustrative of my invention and not with respect thereto.

employed by way of limitation, inasmuch as numerous changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. In an electric fixture terminal, a housing, supply wires, an insulated block carrying at its lower end contact members to which the supply wires are attached, said block having a smooth peripheral wall and a projecting flange, an annular plate loosely surrounding said block and underlying said flange, the edge of said plate having projections which engage abutments within the housing, a connector unit comprising a body portion having contacts engageable with the contact members of said block, a second plate secured to said body portion and having extensions engaging abutments within said housing in spaced relation to said first mentioned plate, and a.

spring bearing against said housing and said block to firmly hold the flange of said block against said first mentioned plate.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the internal wall of said housing is provided with an annular rib engaged by said first mentioned plate and a second annular rib engaged by said second plate each of said ribs having cut away portions at points corresponding to the projections of said plates, the respective cut away portions of said ribs being in'vertical alinement to provide channels through which the projections on said first mentioned plate may be moved straight into its position above said first mentioned annular rib.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the internal wall of said housing is provided with an annular rib engaged by said first mentioned plate and a second annular rib engaged by said second plate each of said ribs having cut away portions at points corresponding to the projections of said plates, the respective cut away portions of said ribs being in vertical alinement to provide channels through which the projections on said first mentioned plate may be moved straight into its position above said first mentioned annular rib, and stop means carried by said housing to limit rotational movement of said first-mentioned plate.

4. In an electric fixture, a wiring terminal unit and a connector unit detachably secured thereto, the terminal unit containing a housing and a block provided with wiring terminals and contacts, the connector unit containing a body portion provided with contacts and electric terminals, fiat independent annular members mounted on and adapted to support said block and said body portion, respectively, and having radial extensions thereon, the internal wall of the housing containing annular ridges at two levels with a plurality of recessed portions corresponding to said extensions and adapted to permit the extensions to pass therethrough, the upper of said ridges beheld in abutment, the upper or said members being loosely mounted on said block and movable ISAAC LITN'ER. 

